Automatic signal for railways



(No Model.)

G. PROVOST.

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL PGR RAILWAYS. No. 403,370. Patented May 14, 1889.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAVE PROVOST, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming` part of Letters Patent No. 403,370, dated May 14, 1889.

Application filed .Tnly 9, 1888. Serial No. 279,465. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GUsTAvE PRovosT, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have inven ted certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Railway Signals and Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to railways in general, but more particularly to cable railways, and a means by which signals may be given and switches worked automatically 5 and it consists of an operating lever or grip under the control of the driver of a car or engine, of a series of shafts with fast pulleys or sprocketwheels, and projecting arms set so as to act' through appropriate connections upon either a signal or a switch, or both, and of a means for reversing such signal and switch at the proper time. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan of a cable-railway crossing, showing my device in position. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section at line l l, Fig. l, representing a grip and the projecting arm of one of the shafts at right angle with the gripslot. Fig. 3 is a vertical section at line 2 2, Fig. l, showing a shaft with two sprocketwheels, signals, and a signal post and rod.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In order to givel a more lucid explanation of the'workings of my invention, I shall describe it only as applied to cable railways, although it is evident that it can be used on any other kind with obvious modifications.

A A are tracks; B B, slots along which a cable-car grip, c, slides, and C C traction-cables. The shaft D, provided in most cases with two sprocket-wheels, a c., and turning in bearings, is put up vertically in a suitable chamber underneath the signal-post E, Fig. 3. A connecting-rod, b, carrying signals and revolving on its axis within the post E, is secured to the end of D. Two other shafts, D D2, provided each with one sprocket-wheel a, and turning in bearings, are placed also vertically in their respective chambers in a line parallel to the slot B of the cable-conduit, Fig. l. Arms f f extend perpendicularly from D and D2, and are brought alternately into the cable-conduit across the plane of the grip-slot B, so as to encounter the grip of a car sliding through that slot.

The three shafts just described are connected to each other by means of their respective sprocket wheels and the endless chains g g, running through connecting-channels, the chain g communicating the movement from the shaft D to the shaftD and the chain g transmitting it to the shaft D2. The chain g runs in a simple course, while the -chain g is crossed so as to reciprocate the motion. I prefer using sprocket wheels and chains instead of pulleys and ropes, although links need be used only for that part of the chain which rides over the sprockets, as a common rope or 'rod can easily replace the other parts.

Vhen used to operate signals, my device may be applied and operated as follows: A signal-post, E, is set up at or near the crossing, Fig. l, in the line of vision of cars coming on the crossing-line. The signal-rod b and the shaft D are then applied. The shaft D', with its arm f set transversely to the slot B, is placed at the required distance from the crossing, and the shaft D2,'with its arm f set in a line parallel to the slot B, may be placed at any convenient point. A car traveling on the railway line A and approaching the track A strikes and pushes aside, by means of its grip, the arm f of the shaft D and swings both the arm and shaft about one-quarter of the way around. The sprocket-wheel o follows the movement and communicates it through the chain g to the lower sprocketwheel of the shaft D, causing the latter and the signal-rod b to turn and show colors indicating danger. At the same time, and through the power transmitted by the upper sprocket-wheel of the shaft D, the chain g', and the sprocket-wheel a of the shaft D2; the latter is also swung around and its arm f brought into position so as to encounter the grip. As soon as the car has come in full view of the cars on the crossing-line, or after it has safely passed, the grip strikes and shoves aside the arm f, and the operation just described being reversed the signal now shows that the track is clear and both arms f f have assumed their original position.

It is manifest that my device may as well IOO be used for the working` of a switch by simply substituting a swinging rail for the sig'- nal-rod and post referred to above with a trifling change in the connections. Numerous Changes in the construction and relative arrangement of the several parts might be resorted to without departing` from the spirit of my invention, and I do not, therefore, wish to limit myself to the precise forms of construetion nor to the exact position of the different parts as above described.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent; is-

l. The combination of the cable-conduit, the three shaftchambers, the connectingchannels, the signal-post, and a signal meohanism arranged therein, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

L. The Combination of the cable-conduit, zo

g g', the signal-rod, and the protecting-post, 3o

all substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

GUSTAVE PROVOST.

IV itnesses:

J. F. KINGWELL, CHAs. S. JONES. 

